A jury in Paterson began deliberating Thursday in the trial of two former Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission supervisors charged with official misconduct and other counts.

Jurors will resume trying to reach a verdict Friday in the trial of Northvale mayor Paul Bazela, former carpentry shop foreman at the agency, and co-defendant Anthony Ardis, formerly the second in command at the commission and an ethics violation officer.

Ardis and Bazela are charged with second-degree official misconduct, second-degree conspiracy, third-degree theft by unlawful taking and second-degree pattern of official misconduct. Second-degree crimes carry five to 10 years in prison, while third-degree crimes carry three to five years. on trial for alleged official misconduct and other counts.

The state contends they illegally used agency carpenters and electricians to perform personal projects at the home of Ardis’ mother and girlfriend on several occasions between 2007 and 2009 while they were on the clock.

During closing statements Wednesday before state Superior Court Judge Joseph A. Portelli in Paterson, one of the defense attorneys said the two men are being unfairly held up as examples in a game of “political football” because of what he said amounted to innocent errors in judgment.

Wayne defense lawyer Gregory Aprile, representing Ardis, maintained the work done was tantamount to a few “odd jobs” lasting a few hours. If not completely ethical, defense attorneys maintain their clients didn’t bend the rules knowingly and what happened was hardly criminal.

“Why are we here?” said Willis. “What is so important about this case that it went from the PVSC, to the state Attorney General’s Office, to a grand jury, to a trial? ... Do you want to hear what the total amount of money in this case is? Less than $700. Two pieces of wood made to be inserted on a $50 microwave, and two good men are brought to their knees, and humbled.”

Three workers allegedly were told to install wood panels and hook up a microwave at the mother’s Paterson home. The indictment also alleges that Ardis used workers during their regular shifts to replace air-conditioning units at his girlfriend’s home in Totowa. In another instance, the state alleges, they dispatched workers to Ardis’ mother’s house to remove wallboard in the garage.

“They [the state] have made a mountain out of a mole hill. They took a mist and made it into a rainstorm. They took a wind and turned it into a tornado,” Willis said. “I guess it’s about ‘principle? The state of New Jersey has it’s principles? Paul Bazela has had a nightmare dumped on him. You want to make him a criminal? Paul Bazela? This case is wrong. It isn’t right to do this to either one of these two men. They’re too decent. They’re too honorable.”

Aprile said there is no evidence that his client directed his underlings to go to Ardis’ mother’s home or fiancée’s home to perform the work, and suggested that Bazela directed the men to do the work as a favor during what Ardis thought would be off-hours. He described the work as “five innocuous odd jobs” that should not be the subject of a criminal investigation.

“Are we dealing with the addition being put onto a home? A pool being put in?’ Aprile said.

He noted that the four workers who testified for the state about going to the homes and performing the work during company time could not even provide specific dates. “How do you defend stuff like that?” Aprile said. “Do you have any supporting documentation at all?”

Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Manis, in his closing statement, said the jury should not be fooled into thinking the defendants are sacrificial lambs.

“Anthony Ardis and Paul Bazela are not the victims here. Mr. Ardis and Mr. Bazela are part of the problem. The victim is the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission. The victims are the towns and communities that rely on the PVSC, and who provide funds to support the PVSC.”